Meet the Team
Executive Directors
Nigel Gazzard
Chair
Nigel, the recent Managing Director of BrisDoc Healthcare Services Ltd, and a former non-executive director of UHUK, has an extensive and well-established career in health care, supported by leadership experience in both the social enterprise sector and the private/public sectors. His career achievements include establishing a GP-led healthcare business operating within the NHS to serve over one million people; leading its conversion to an employee-owned social enterprise; delivering an award-winning NHS mental healthcare service; launching a social impact fund to address health inequalities; and co-authoring a book on leadership.
Conor Burke
Chief Executive
Conor is a former NHS leader who he began his career as an Occupational Therapist working as a clinician and then NHS manager in London. Most recently he has worked as an independent healthcare consultant helping with NHS systems, HealthTech companies and life science organisations to transform the delivery of health and care. He is also a Non-Executive Director of Herts Urgent Care (HUC) Ltd. Conor was appointed CEO UHUK in October 2021.
Dr Dawood Anwar
Medical Director UHUK
Dawood is a clinician by background, holding membership with the Royal College of General Practitioners as well as the Royal of College of Surgeons. He has been working with Salford Primary Care Together since September 2018. He is a proven healthcare leader and possesses strong communication skills, empathy, adaptability and ability to inspire and motivate others. He has proven himself to be a strategic thinker and has a commitment to growth and development for himself and others around him. He is currently undertaking an MBA in healthcare leadership. Dawood has recently led on significant development and transformation within SPCT to ensure it remains a strong and sustainable organisation. He has developed a keen interest in primary urgent care service provision, especially the integration of services to simplify the patient journey. Other than urgent care, Dawood’s clinical interests include MSK medicine in both primary and secondary care settings.
Non-Executive Directors
Stephen Bateman
Chief Executive DHU Health Care
Stephen joined DHU as Chief Operating Officer on 6th January 2014, he was promoted to Chief Executive Officer in July 2014. Stephen has had a successful career in healthcare where he has previously worked for Allied Healthcare Group and Saga Healthcare. He has a wealth of operational, finance, customer service, project management, and commercial experience in the UK and abroad. Stephen is a Chartered Accountant (CPFA) and Member of Association of Accounting Technicians (MAAT). Stephen resides in Nottingham and is married with 3 children. He is interested in football, cricket, golf, gardening, travel and DIY.
Michaela Buck
Chief Executive Mastercall
Experienced leader with more than 25 years experience in urgent ‘out of hospital’ healthcare; passionate about providing high quality, safe patient centred services and being a caring and nurturing employer. Specialising in the development and delivery of innovative services, embracing the use of digital technology, with a specific focus on hospital admission avoidance and early supported discharge to improve patient outcomes, reduce inequalities and maximise return on investment for the benefit of the NHS. Michaela is also a director of the Greater Manchester Urgent Primary Care Alliance (in partnership with Bardoc and gtd Healthcare) and has been instrumental in the collaborative partnership approach to developing the Greater Manchester Clinical Assessment Service (CAS) and dental helpline.
Matt Adam
Independent NED, Founder and CEO of We Are Digital
Matt is the founder and CEO of an impact-driven social enterprise, We Are Digital. He mentors other social enterprise founders, and is specifically skilled in strategic objectives. Matt has a passion for creating positive social impact, combined with an entrepreneurial mindset, which has allowed him to foster meaningful relationships with various stakeholders across local authorities and central government. He is passionate about public sector innovation and welfare technology and services, looking to do things differently from the status quo, especially in disrupting how community investment is run traditionally, for higher impact for users and organisations. Matt is committed to contributing his strategic acumen, industry knowledge, and collaborative spirit to advance UHUK’s social mission.
Senior Management Team
Tonia Culpin
Director of Partnerships
Tonia retired in March 2021 as Chief Executive of LCW after 26 years and will remain on the LCW Board as a Non-Executive Director. Tonia also served as a UHUK Non-Executive Director from 2016 to 2023 and is now the Commercial Partnerships Director. During her time as a UHUK NED, Tonia worked with ASW Assurance to align the UHUK members audit to CQC standards as well as representing members interests relating to the services provided by Advanced Healthcare.
Sharon Clifton
Communications Advisor
Sharon is a senior communications specialist with 25 years' experience in strategic communications, public relations, and stakeholder engagement. Formerly Head of Communications at the Borough Council of King’s Lynn & West Norfolk, she has a proven track record in partnership working, shaping impactful messaging, leading high-profile campaigns, and driving engagement across the public, healthcare, and not-for-profit sectors.
Business Support Team
Hazel Harrison
Business Manager and Company Secretary
Hazel graduated with a BA in Modern Languages and Information Systems from Bristol and has since held senior PA posts within Education and the NHS. She is a qualified counsellor and has worked voluntarily for MIND. She worked with NHS Devon in Contracting before securing her role as Business Manager with UHUK.
Sarah Fletcher
Business Coordinator
Sarah joined the team in 2014 bringing skills gained from data processing, training delivery and technical authoring in the offshore survey industry to the business administrator role at Urgent Health. Sarah writes the weekly news for members, the bi-annual newsletter and is instrumental in organising the workshops for members.